Prosthetics | Ana Plastics - Center for Custom Prosthetics

ANAPlastics Inc. Prosthetic Products

Prosthetics are a very personal thing. They can make the difference between living and existing for many people. They can also mean the difference between life with a disability or living almost as fully as everyone else.

Doing your homework and seeking advice on prosthetics is the first step in deciding whether the technology is right for you or not. It may seem like a no-brainer, to have something that improved mobility or appearances to not. To having a utility on whichever affected body part or not. But the choice is much more personal than that.

Some people become so comfortable with being themselves, different or not that a prosthetic wouldn’t be of any benefit to them. It may offer physical advantages, but not emotional ones. It is often the emotional damage that causes the most problems, especially if the disfigurement is somewhere prominent. People can then become victims of bullying or subject of ridicule for being different.

While the main aim of prosthetic technology is to regain physical capability in the face of difficulty, it is also designed to ease those burdens and to make the wearer feel and act as ‘normal’ as possible. It’s as much about what it means, then what it does.

Talking things through with your physician should be your first step if you’re considering a prosthetic. They should have an idea of what kind of solution would work for you, and the implications for wearing one. They will also be able to discuss cost and other factors too, which will have a bearing on what you end up doing.

Not all artificial limbs are created equal, some are more capable than others, and some will have more drawbacks than others. Your physician or surgeon is the best person to speak to about your options. They will know the facts about the different options and what would be best for you.

You need to have an idea of what you want to get out of the prosthetic in order for you to get the right one. Is it to blend in with everyone else? Or to regain use of a lost limb? There will be compromises whatever answer you provide, but it will decide the type of limb you consider. There are many technically brilliant ones that look nothing like the natural. There are also those that look natural but lack many of the technological advances of others.

As ever there is a compromise needed in order for you to get what you want. As an unfortunate result of the wars in the middle east, the US military have devised some excellent prosthetics that are now available on the civilian market. It may be worth stretching the budget for one of those as they try to balance the needs of the aesthetic while performing the physical needs of the wearer.

Whatever prosthetic you are considering, make sure you research the subject and answer yourself truthfully about why you want it. It will save a lot of time and energy later.